Carton filling apparatus



Aug. w 1956 G DAscH 2,757,502

CARTON FILLING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GEORGE DAs AWW ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1956 G. DASCH 2,757,502

CARTON FILLING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

GEORGE DASCHI JM '/W ATTORNEY CARTUN FEELING APPARATUS George Dasch, New York, N. Y., assignor to Sunray Food Products Corporation, Bronx, N. Y., a corporation Application March 29, 1955, Serial No. 497,664 12 Claims. (tll. Eli -3th!) This invention relates to carton filling apparatus of the type in which collapsed cartons are removed one at a time from a stack thereof, opened, filled, closed and discharged. More particularly, the invention relates to means for continuously replenishing the stack of collapsed cartons at a rate coordinated with the rate of removal or" filled cartons from the apparatus.

in a known type of carton filling apparatus, a substantially horizontally extending endless conveyor is arranged to receive cartons from an upwardly extending chute or magazine supporting a stack of collapsed cartons. The stacked cartons are removed one at a time from the magazine by a cyclically operable vacuum cup device which, in cooperation with suitable carton guide means, opens the collapsed carton as it is moved to the conveyor. As the erect and open carton is transported by the conveyor, bottom closing means close and seal the bottom flaps of the container.

At a position spaced from the magazine, a relatively large hopper is arranged adjacent the conveyor to contain a supply of nuts, candy, dried seeds, or the like. At this position, stepping means remove an empty carton from the conveyor and replace it with a filled carton. The stepping means moves the empty carton beneath the hopper, where metering means automatically feed a predetermined quantity of the hopper contents into the empty carton.

The filled cartons replaced on the conveyor by the stepping means are moved by the conveyor past means which check each carton to see that it is properly filled. Empty, or improperly filled cartons are ejected from the conveyor. The properly filled carton means are transported past sealing means which close and seal the tops of filled cartons. The sealed cartons are then moved to a further position where carton removal means operate, responsive to the presence of a preset number of filled and sealed cartons thereat, to remove such preset number of filled cartons from the conveyor. For example, the filled and sealed cartons may be removed two at a time from the conveyor.

Machines of this type, such as that known as the Redington Type 9EL5 machine manufactured by the F. B. Redington Co. of Chicago, Illinois, operate at a relatively rapid rate so that the supply of collapsed or fiat cartons in the magazine is exhausted in a relatively few minutes. This requires an operator to be in substantially constant attendance to replenish the supply of collapsed cartons in the magazine. Theoretically, the magazine capacity could be increased by extending the magazine upwardly. Practically, however, such a solution is not feasible due to limited available vertical clearances and the operative ditficulties involved in attending a higher magazine.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention is directed to means for automatically replenishing the supply of collapsed cartons in the magazine at a rate coordinated with the rate at which filled and sealed cartons are removed from the apparatus. This means prefer- "taes Patent l Patented Aug. 7, 1956 ably comprises a horizontal magazine connected to the upper end of the upwardly extending magazine and extending generally longitudinal of the machine in vertically spaced substantially parallel relation to the conveyor and thus within the general confines of the carton filling and sealing apparatus.

This horizontal magazine or magazine extension comprises means for supporting a horizontally extending stack of collapsed cartons, a follower for moving the stack toward the main magazine, and means for guiding the cartons from the extension into the main magazine. Driving means are provided, in operative association with the filled carton removing means, to step the follower toward the main magazine each time the filled carton removing means removes a predetermined number of filled cartons from the conveyor.

The amount of each such stepping of the follower corresponds substantially to the overall thickness of a number of collapsed containers equal to the number of filled containers removed from the conveyor. Preferably, the stepplng force applied to the container is somewhat in excess of the requisite amount to compensate for improperly filled or inadvertently unfilled cartons ejected from the conveyor in advance of the removing mechanism. Sufficient play is provided in the mechanism to accommodate any difference in the total number of collapsed and filled cartons in the machine resulting from variations in the number of rejected cartons ejected from the conveyor in advance of the carton removal means.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, partly schematic, of a carton filling apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation view illustrating the junction of the main magazine and the horizontal extension;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the main magazine and the transition guiding means omitted;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation View of the follower with its guiding means shown in phantom;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the follower and its guiding means; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of the follower stepping means and its connection to the carton removing means.

Referring to Fig. 1, the invention is illustrated as incorporated in a carton erecting, filling, and sealing apparatus ll) of the type known as a Redington Type 9EL5. This apparatus comprises an endless, substantially horizontal conveyor 11, a generally vertically extending magazine 12, a hopper l3, stepping means 14 for removing empty cartons from conveyor 11 and re turning filled cartons thereto, and filled carton removing means 15. Magazine 12 comprises a pair of verti cally arranged angles 16 and a back member 17. This magazine is arranged to hold a stack of collapsed cartons 20.

The collapsed or folded cartons 20 are removed one at a time from magazine 12 by a cyclically operable suction mechanism connected to a vacuum pump to maintain an eflective suction in a cup engageable with a carton 20. The suction mechanism removes the collapsed cartons from magazine 12 and, in cooperation with suitable guide means, erects or opens the cartons for positioning on conveyor 11. As the erected cartons are moved toward stepping means 14 by conveyor 11, the bottom flaps of the cartons are closed and sealed by suitable means not forming part of the invention. When the thus processed cartons 20 reach stepping means 14, they are removed thereby from conveyor 11 and placed beneath hopper 13 where a metering means (not shown) places a predetermined amount of the contents of hopper 13 in the carton. Such contents may be candy, nuts, dried seeds, or other particular material. The filled carton is then returned to conveyor 11, a filled carton being returned to the conveyor each time an empty carton is removed therefrom.

The filled cartons on conveyor 11 are moved toward removal means 15. During such movement, the filled cartons pass ejector instrumentalities which check each carton for proper filling and remove or eject unfilled or improperly filled cartons. The remaining cartons then have their top flaps closed and sealed by top sealing means of any conventional type.

Each time a predetermined number of filled and sealed cartons reach removal means 15, this means operates to remove such number of cartons from conveyor 11 for packing in cases of filled cartons, for example. Removal means 15 comprises a rockable carrier 21 secured to a rock shaft 22 extending along conveyor 11 in substantially parallel relation thereto. Each time a control is triggered by the presence of two filled cartons on means 15, for example, rock shaft 22 is rocked to swing carrier 21 transversely of the conveyor to remove the filled cartons therefrom. Such rocking of shaft 22 is utilized to step the follower of the magazine extension, as will be described hereinafter.

The magazine extension of the invention, which is generally indicated at 30, is supported from a structural framework alongside of and generally parallel to machine 10. This framework includes uprights 31 and 32, a working platform 33 being supported at the upper ends of uprights 31. An angle iron 34 is secured along the upper ends of uprights 32 and supports crossbraces 36 for a shelf on which collapsed cartons for loading into extension 30 may be supported. An angle iron 37 extending along the rear ends of braces 36 has secured thereto upright plates 38.

The upper ends of plates 38 have secured thereto cross members 39 which support and interconnect a pair of spaced, parallel, elongated, relatively large angle irons 40 forming the main longitudinal elements of magazine extension 30. At the carton removal end of the machine, the extension is firmly supported by a relatively heavy column 41. For a purpose to be described, outwardly facing channel tracks are secured along the upper portions of angles 40.

The members 40 support an endless belt 42 which is the driving means for follower 50. Belt 42, which is of relatively resilient or flexible material, is trained at each end over roller or drum pulleys 43 rotatable on shafts 44 supported in bearings in hangers 46 secured by angles 47 to the horizontal legs of members 40, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Rollers 48, rotatably supported in angles 40 and extending therebetween, support the upper run of belt 42.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, follower 50 includes angle shape side frame members 51 whose horizontal legs 52 each rotatably support a pair of rollers engaged in channel tracks 45. The upper ends of vertical legs 53 are interconnected by a cross shaft 54 on which are bearing blocks 56 each having secured thereto the rear upright leg 61 of a generally U-shape strap 60. Straps include forwardly and upwardly sloping front upright legs 62 each connected to leg 61 by a bottom portion 63 arranged to ride just above belt 42. A cross member 64 interconnects legs 62. Legs 61 and bottom portions 63 are interconnected by short transition sections 64 having apertures aligned with nuts 66 welded or brazed to sections 64. These nuts threadedly receive pointed studs whose function will be described.

Collapsed cartons 20 stacked on edge on belt 42 are guided into magazine 12 by a curved guide 70 having its lower outer end secured to a shaft 71 having handles 72 and supported in hearings in angles 73. A spring 74 biases guide 7h inwardly and its outward movement is limited by interengaging means on shaft 71 and its bearings. These means may be released to swing guide 70 further outwardly and downwardly by axial movement of shaft 71.

If desired, a control switch for the machine drive may be mounted for actuation by inward movement of guide 70 resulting from the absence of collapsed cartons on belt 42, a suitable time delay being incorporated to use up the cartons in magazine 12 before operation of the machine is halted.

To load belt 42, parts 66 of follower 50 are tilted clockwise to release studs 65 from belt 42 so that the follower can be moved rearwardly. Collapsed cartons from a supply on shelf 35 are then stacked on edge be tween legs 62 of the follower and magazine 12, which has previously been filled with collapsed cartons as has also the volume embraced by guide 79. To add more cartons, follower 50 is released as described and moved rearwardly an amount sufficient to accommodate the additional cartons. The elements 60 are then dropped behind the cartons, causing studs 65 to engage in belt 42 for driving by the latter.

The stepping means for follower 50 is best seen in Fig. 7. Pulley 43 at the carton discharge end of the apparatus has secured to rotate therewith a V pulley 76 connected by an endless belt 77 to a relatively small V pulley '78 secured to rotate with a ratchet 80 supported for rotation in a bearing in a bracket depending from a member 48. An arm 81 pivoted on a mem ber 41 rotatably supports an idler V pulley 82 engaging belt 77 to maintain proper tension thereon. An angle bracket 83 is rockably mounted on the shaft 79 of pulley 78 and ratchet 89, and a pawl 85 is pivoted to the outer end of arm 84 of bracket 83 and engages ratchet 8-0. A universal coupling 86 on the outer end of the other arm of bracket 83 is secured to a connection 87, such as a rod or flexible cable, having its other end adjustably secured by a set screw 26 in a universal coupling 88 on an extension 23 on removal means carrier 21. Relative adjustment of elements 87 and 88 changes the stroke of pawl 85 to adjust the movement of belt 42.

Each time carrier 21 is rocked to remove two filled cartons from the apparatus, bracket 83 is swung clockwise so that pawl 85 turns ratchet 80 a small amount. The rotations of the lever arms and the V belt drive are so selected that such movement is sufficient to advance the upper run of belt 42 by an amount equal to the thickness of two collapsed cartons. Should the collapsed cartons be stacked too tightly in the machine, idler 82 will move to allow play in belt 77 as pawl 85 moves counterclockwise to engage another tooth of ratchet 80. Ratchet 80 will thus move counter-clockwise with pawl 85 and no movement of belt 42 will occur. This play, and the amount of possible advance of belt 42 by pawl 85 are so selected that pawl 85 can advance belt 42 by more than the thickness of two collapsed cartons so as to take up any slac due to ejection of unfilled cartons from the machine.

With the described magazine extension, the running time of the machine before refilling is multiplied several times, so that an attendant need refill the machine with collapsed cartons only at much greater intervals and substantially constant attention is not necessary. This results in a substantially decreased labor cost.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a carton filling and sealing machine including a substantially upright magazine arranged to contain a stack of collapsed cartons, means for removing cartons one at a time from the magazine, erecting the carton, and placing it on a substantially horizontally extending elongated conveyor, means for closing and sealing the bottom flaps of erected cartons on the conveyor, means for metering a quantity of material into each carton, means for closing and sealing the top flaps of each properly filled carton, and removal means operable, responsive to the presence of a pre-set number of filled and closed cartons, to cyclically remove such number of filled cartons from the conveyor; an extension for the magazine comprising, in combination, horizontally extending means communicating with the upper end of the magazine and arranged to support a horizontally extended stack of collapsed cartons; follower means movable along said extension behind said horizontal stack of collapsed cartons; and stepping means operable to advance said follower means, responsive to each cycle of operation of the removal means, by an amount sufiicient to maintain the total of collapsed and erected cartons in the machine at a substantially constant value.

2. In combination with a carton filling and sealing machine including a substantially upright magazine arranged to contain a stack of collapsed cartons, means for removing cartons one at a time from the magazine, erecting the carton, and placing it on a substantially horizontally extending elongated conveyor, means for closing and sealing the bottom flaps of erected cartons on the conveyor, means for metering a quantity of material into each carton, means for closing and sealing the top flaps of each properly filled carton, and removal means operable, responsive to the presence of a pre-set number of filled and closed cartons, to cyclically remove such number of filled cartons from the conveyor; an extension for the magazine comprising, in combination, horizontally extending means communicating with the upper end of the magazine and arranged to support a horizontally extended stack of collapsed cartons; follower means movable along said extension behind said horizontal stack of collapsed cartons; and stepping means operable to advance said follower means, responsive to each cycle of operation of the removal means, by an amount at least equal to the overall thickness of said preset number of collapsed cartons.

3. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 1 including means for guiding stacked collapsed cartons from said extension into said magazine.

4. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 1 in which said horizontally extending means comprises an endless belt; said follower means is engaged with said belt; and said stepping means is operatively connected to said belt to move the same and said follower means.

5. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 1 in which said horizontally extending means comprises an endless belt; said follower means is detachably engaged with said belt; and said stepping means is operatively connected to said belt to move the same and said follower means.

6. A magazine extension for a carton filling and seal ing machine, as claimed in claim 1 in which said horizontally extending means comprises an endless belt; said follower means is movable along guiding track means parallel to a run of said belt and is detachably engaged with said belt; and said stepping means is operatively connected to said belt to move the same and said follower means.

7. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 1 in which said horizontally extending means comprises an endless belt; said follower means is movable along guiding track means parallel to a run of said belt and is detachably engaged with said belt; and said stepping means is operatively connected to said belt to move the same and said follower means; and means for guiding stacked collapsed cartons from said extension into said magazine.

8. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 7 in which said guiding means comprises a curved arm swingably mounted on said magazine for movement in a plane common to said magazine and extension; and means biasing said arm toward said extension.

9. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 4 in which said stepping means comprises a rotatable ratchet drivingly connected to said belt; and a reciprocable pawl operated by the removal means of the machine.

10. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 9 including a V belt and pulley drive connecting said ratchet to said belt; and an idler engaged with the V belt.

11. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 6 in which the follower means includes an element mounted for swinging movement relative to said belt, and carrying means engageable in said belt by swinging of said element toward said belt.

12. A magazine extension for a carton filling and sealing machine, as claimed in claim 11 in which said element is pivoted on a shaft above and transverse of said belt.

No references cited. 

